Self-releasing collet nose



May 18, 1965 c. P. GEEN 3,184,175

SELFRELEASING COLLET NOSE Filed Oct. 4, 1963 FlGi.

NNNNNN OR: CORY P. GEEN AT T YS United States Patent 3,ir'34,ll75 SELF-RELEASENG IGLLET NOSE Cory P. Geen, Philadelphia, Pa, assiguor to industrial Devices, Inc, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 4, 1963, er. No. 53,332 19 Claims. (Cl. ass-ass The present invention relates generally to collcts for mounting driving tubes on which are wound thread or fiber packages, and more particularly to an improved selireleasing nose for such a collet upon which the strand is initially wound during acceleration of the coliet prior to transfer onto the package tube.

The invention has been developed particularly for use in winding glass fibers other fibers which must be wound under a constant tension at a uniform rate. Although it will be apparent that the invention may be ut lized with other types of threads or fibers, for purposes of illustration the following description will be directed primarily to the invention as used in glass fiber win-cling.

The winding of glass fibers is also a drawing operation, the strand being formed of a mutiplicity of filaments which are pulled through a bushing m a semi-molten condition and combined and Wound at high speed upon cylindrical tubes to form fiber packages. To insure a uniform strand, it is necessary that the drawing of the filaments proceed at a uniform rate. However, the drauing operation must be periodically interrupted upon cornpletion of each package, necessitating the cutting of the strand and the starting of a new package upon an empty tube. The high speed at which the winding operation takes place, presently in the vicinity of 15,600 feet per minute, results in a short run for each package thz. an interruption of the drawing operation at frequent intervals.

Upon resumption of the winding of the fiber, the strand is initially in a heavy, irregular condition and cannot be wound upon the package tube since it is not commercially acceptable fiber. Such fiber is known as coarse yarn and is wound upon a nose of the collet provided for such purpose from which the strand is transferred onto the tube upon reaching the normal winding speed. Upon completion of the package, the coarse yarn is cut from the nose by the operator to permit the next package to be started in the same manner. Although the cutting and stripping of the coarse yarn from the collet nose is not in each instance a very serious time consuming operation, nonetheless considering the operation must be performed many times each shift, it can be undersccd that the saving of even a minute during each such stripping operation would measurably increase the productivity of each winder.

it is accordingly a first object of the present invention to provide an improved nose for a glass winder collet which will effectively decrease the time required for removing the coarse yarn from the collet nose.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved collet nose as described which will eliminate the necessity for cutting and stripping the coarse yarn in removing the yarn from the collet nose and thus preserve the coarse yarn turns for other uses.

An additional object or" the invention is to provide improved collet nose as described which automatically releases the coarse yarn wound thereon upon completion of each yarn package.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be In re readily apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevaiional view of a collet assembly including an embodiment of the present invention;

HS. 2 is a elevational view of the assembly illus trated in EEG. 1;

PEG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken on line 3-3 of PEG. 2 showing the details of the collet nose and mannor of attachment to the collet assembly;

PEG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line =l-4 of PEG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a modified embodiot the invention;

\1. o is a view taken along line d-6 of PEG. 5';

7 is a partial sectional view showing a further modified mbodinient of the invention in the rest position;

designated it embodying the present invention is one mounted on the end of a collet assenr ly in on ich is disposed a cardboard or synthetic winding tube The collet assembly shown is that disclosed and claimed in my US. Patent 3,099,411 and is characterized by rad'ally expandable resilient drive rings 16 which are adapted to expand upon rotation of the collet on the spin ;d to grip and round out the tube lid. The invention is adapted for use with all winder ccllets but is preferably used in conjunction with the illustrated patented ccllet assembly.

R ferring to the detail views of FEGS. 3 and 4, the invention includes an annular nose piece 25 which is press fitted and bolted by bolt 22 to a modified outer colhub 24. The nose piece comprises an axially extendrnember defining a cylindrical surface 26 which term es in a flange portion 28 having an inwardly directed shoulder portion 35 A similar opposed outwardly directed shoulder 32 is provided on the outer hub 24 of the coil-st assembly.

An annular resilient nose ring 34 is disposed on the cylindrical surface 26 and provided with shoulders 35 and adapted to enact with the shoulder portions 3i? and 32 of the nose piece and collet outer hub to limit the radial expansion of the ring 34 upon rotation of the coilet.

Spaced metal segments 4% are bonded to the interior of the resilient ring to prevent humping of the ring on expansion thereof, the spacing of the segments permitting uniform expansion of the ring. Although in this instance a channel shaped segment is shown, the shape of the segment and the number and spacing of the segments may be varied as required by the characteristics of the materials employed and the dimensions and speed of operation of the nose.

The flange portion 28 of the nose piece is proportioned with respect to the ring 34 such that in the rest position the exterior surface of the ring is flush with the flange portion to provide an even surface for removal of the coarse yarn.

In the expanded condition, the ring 34- expands radially to the position shown in broken lines at 42 in which position the ring outer surface is adjacent the beveled surface 44 of the outer hub which permits an unimpeded transfer of the strand from the nose onto the rotating tube when the collet has accelerated to the proper winding speed.

The nose ring 34 may be molded from a number of synthetic resilent materials such as neoprene, hypalon, or other synthetic elastorners. The material selected should exhibit abrasion resistance and be of sufiicient resilience so as to expand to the desired limit at a relatively low rotational speed- The nose ring should expand before the drive rings of the illustrated collet 12 engage the tube such that winding of the strand may be started almost Patented ill lay l8, i965 a immediately following the starting of the collet in rotation.

In operation, a glass fiber strand is manually started around the ring 34 of the collet nose and the collet is rapidly accelerated to the desired winding speed. The ring 34 is as described above of such a material that expansion thereof to the position indicated at 42 occurs at a relatively low rotational speed, well in advance of the expansion of the drive rings 16 of the collet. The turns of coarse yarn built up on the ring 34 are, as a result, of a diameter equal to or greater than that of the expanded ring. When the collet has reached the desired winding speed, the strand is shifted from the nose ring onto the tube 14 and a yarn package is built upon the tube in the normal manner.

When the winding of the package has been completed, the collet assembly is braked to a halt for removal of the yarn package. Upon halting of the assembly, the nose ring 34 contracts to the rest position shown, thereby automatically releasing the coarse yarn which may simply be slid from the nose into a collecting bin. The removal of the coarse yarn because of the self-releasing action of the collet nose may thus be effected in a matter of seconds to clear the nose for the winding of the next package. It should be noted that with the present structure, there is no possibility of coarse yarn fibers fouling or sticking in ridges or projections since the nose structure consists entirely of smooth-finished annular surfaces.

A first modified embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. and 6 in which the nose piece 46 is press fitted and bolted by means of bolts 48 to a collet outer hub 50 in the same manner as shown with respect to the first preferred embodiment. The basic difference in the embodiment is the manner in Which the expansible nose ring 52 is prevented from axially deforming under centrifugal stress. In this instance the ring 52 is provided with axially disposed pins 54 extending beyond the sides of the ring, the pins being anchored within the molded ring by means of lobes or nips 56 on the pins. The pins 54 engage radial slots 57 in metal washers 58 which are fitted adjacent each side of the ring 52 and secured by the shouldered flange portion of the nose piece and the shouldered outer hub of the collet. Upon radial expansion of the nose ring, the pins 54 slide radially outwardly in the slots 57 of the Washers 58 and on engaging the outer ends of the slots, prevent further radial expansion of the ring. The pins 54 also serve the important function of preventing axial distortion or humping of the ring; The embodiment is operated in the same manner as the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 described above.

A second modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. '7 and 8 and includes a nose piece 60 press fitted and bolted to outer collet hub 62. The nose ring 64 of this embodiment presents in the rest position an outwardly sloping exterior surface 66, the slope of which is continued by the face 68 of the nose piece flange portion 70. The ring 64 includes shoulders 72 and 74 which are adapted to coact respectively with shoulders 76 and 7 8 of the nose piece flange portion and the collet outer hub. The shoulder 76 of the nose piece flange portion is so radially disposed as to permit a substantially greater expansion of the outer portion of the ring than the inner portion-thereof, with the result that the ring upon expansion during rotation provides a substantially level exterior surface 66 as shown in FIG. 8 upon which the coarse yarn is wound. To promote the desired expanding action of the ring and prevent humping of the ring, an annular slot 80 is provided in the inner face of the ring 64 to permit a pivoting of the outerportion of the ring into engagement with the nose piece flange portion shoulder 76. This pivoting action results in a widening of the slot 80 as shown in FIG. 8 and in addition causes a slight depression 82 in the exterior face 66 of the ring. Clearance must be provided between the ring and the shoulder portion of the nose piece as shown at 34 in FIG. 7 to permit the desired pivotal action of the ring.

The ring in this embodiment should be of a denser, harder material than that employed in the previously described embodiments and is preferably molded of urethane. A harder material is required to offset the tendency of the unreinforced ring to hump and possibly become disengaged from the restraining shoulders. By using a harder ring, the portions of the ring divided by the slot 80' maintain an independent rigidity such that the outer portion of the ring expands in the pivoting manner described above while the inner portion expands in a purely radial manner.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is the same as that describedabove with respect to the preceding embodiments. The slight depression 82 in the exterior surface 66 of the ring serves the useful *function of channelling the coarse yarn along the face of the ring.

The present invention can be understood to be a substantial improvement over the old type of collet nose shown for example in my US. Patent 3,099,411 referred to above. The present self-releasing nose eliminates the time-consuming task of cutting the coarse yarn as was necessary with previous structures. This not only results in a more efiicient winding operation but also eliminates damage to the coarse yarn which might prevent its use for other applications such as an insulation material, filler, and the like. a

Manifestly, changes in details of construction can be effected by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in and limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a Winder collet, and a self-releasing collet nose, said nose comprising a nose piece extending axially outwardly from the collet, an annular resilient ring on said nose piece adapted for radial expansion upon rotation of the collet, said ring having an external diameter smaller than the diameter of said collet, and means limiting the radial expansion of the ring to prevent dis engagement thereof from the nose piece, said nose being adapted for the starting of a strand and winding =ofcoarse yarn upon said ring during acceleration of said collet and for the transfer of the strand to said collet when said collet reaches Winding speed, the radial expansion of said ring. upon rotation of said collet and radial contraction thereof upon stopping of said collet releasing the coarse yarn and permitting ready removal thereof from said ring upon stopping of said collet. L

2. In combination, a cylindrical winder collet, and a self-releasing collet nose for Winding of coarse yarn during acceleration of the collet, said collet nose comprising an annular nose piece extending axially outwardly from the collet, said nose piece defining a cylindrical surface axially concentric with the collet, an annular resilient ring disposed on said cylindrical surface adapted for radial expansion upon rotation of the collet, said ring having an external diameter smaller than the diameter of said collet, and means limiting the radial expansion of the ring to prevent disengagement thereof from the nose piece, said nose being adapted for the starting of a strand and winding of coarse yarn upon said ring during acceleration of said collet and for the transfer of the strand to said collet when said collet reaches Winding speed, the radial expansion of said ring upon rotation of said collet and radial contraction thereof upon stopping of said collet releasing the coarse yarn and permitting ready removal thereof from said ring upon stopping of said collet.

3. In combination, a cylindrical collet for winding glass fibers, and a self-releasing collet nose for starting a strand and winding coarse yarn during acceleration of the collet, said nose comprising an annular nose piece secured to said collet, said nose piece defining a cylindrical surface axially concentric with and adjacent to said collet, an annular resilient ring disposed on said cylindrical surface adapted for radial expansion upon rotation of said collet, said ring having an external diameter smaller than the diameter of said collet, a flanged portion of said nose piece adapted to prevent outward axial movement of said ring, and means limiting the radial expansion of the ring to prevent disengagement thereof from said nose piece, said nose being adapted for the starting of a strand and Winding of coarse yarn upon said ring during accelera-tion of said collet and for the transfer of the strand to said collet when said collet reaches winding speed, the radial expansion of said ring upon rotation of said collet and radial contraction thereof upon stopping of said collet releasing the coarse yarn and permitting ready removal thereof from said ring upon stopping of said collet.

4. A self-releasing nose as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means limiting the radial expansion of the ring comprises shoulders on said drive ring coacting with shoulders on said nose piece and on the outer hub of the collet.

5. A self-releasing nose as claimed in claim 4 wherein said ring in the rest position is characterized by an outwardly sloping exterior surface, said shoulders limiting the radial expansion of the ring being disposed so as to permit a greater expansion of the outer portion of the ring than of the inner portion thereof such that the ring exterior surface becomes substantially cylindrical upon ex pansion of the ring.

6. A self-releasing nose as claimed in claim 5 including an annular slot in the inner face of the ring to promote the expansion of the ring so as to form a substantially cylindrical exterior surface.

7. A self-releasing nose as claimed in claim 4 including means for preventing axial distortion of said ring.

8. A self-releasing nose as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means for preventing axial distortion of said ring comprises annular metal segments bonded to the interior surface of said ring.

9. In combination, a cylindrical collet for winding glass fibers, and a self-releasing collet nose for starting a glass fiber strand and winding coarse yarn during acceleration of said collet, said nose comprising an annular nose piece secured to said collet, said nose piece defining a cylindrical surface axially concentric with and adjoining said collet, an annular resilient ring disposed on said cylindrical surface adapted for radial expansion upon rotation of the collet, said ring having an external diameter smaller than the diameter of said collet, a flanged portion of said nose piece adapted to prevent outward axial movement of said ring, and means limiting the radial expansion of said ring to prevent disengagement thereof from said nose piece comprising a plurality of pins secured in said ring and extending transversely therefrom, and means defining radial slots adjacent said ring adapted to receive the ends of said pins such that the radial expansion of said ring is limited by the radial length of said slots, said nose being adapted for the starting of a strand and winding of coarse yarn upon said ring during acceleration of said collet and for the transfer of the strand to said collet when said collet reaches winding speed, the radial expansion of said ring upon rotation of said collet and radial contraction thereof upon stopping of said collet releasing the coarse yarn and permitting ready removal thereof from said ring upon stopping of said collet.

10. The combination claimed in claim 9 wherein said means defining radial slots comprises washers secured by shoulders on said nose piece flange portion and the collet, said washers having radially disposed slots adapted to receive the ends of said pins.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,099,411 7/63 Geen 242-465 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A WINDER COLLET, AND A SELF-RELEASING COLLET NOSE, SAID NOSE COMPRISING A NOSE PIECE EXTENDING AXIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE COLLET, AN ANNULAR RESILIENT RING ON SAID NOSE PIECE ADAPTED FOR RADIAL EXPANSION UPON ROTATION OF THE COLLET, SAID RING HAVING AN EXTERNAL DIAMETER SMALLER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID COLLET, AND MEANS LIMITING THE RADIAL EXPANSION OF THE RING TO PREVENT DISENGAGEMENT THEREOF FOR THE NOSE PIECE, SAID NOSE BEING ADAPTED FOR THE STARTING OF A STRAND AND WINDING OF COARSE YARN UPON SAID RING DURING ACCELERATIN OF SAID COLLET AND FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE STRAND TO SAID COLLET WHEN SAID COLLET REACHES WINDING SPEED, THE RADIAL EXPANSION OF SAID RING UPON ROTATION OF SAID COLLET AND RADIAL CONTRACTION THEREOF UPON STOPPING OF SAID COLLET RELEASING THE COARSE YARN AND PERMITTING READY REMOVAL THEREOF FROM SAID RING UPON STOPPING OF SAID COLLET. 